October 13, 2021

GV Pickleball:

It seems like it has been a long time since we have gathered for Pickleball at GVCO. Progress is being made building the new facility where there will be expanded Pickleball opportunities for indoor courts. 

The projected time frame for the 1st phase of the project is next September 2022 for our Pickleball! There will be many activities in addition to Pickleball, and we are anticipating having multiple indoor courts when the first phase of th project is completed. The facilities space will be shared space for the many programs GVCO envisions. Go to our GVCO vision on our website for a complete understanding of all the programming including pickleball.

We will be organizing play which will include instruction for beginners, Intermediate and advanced players. There will be games for all levels of play. Good news is there will be no membership fee; but you would pay for the court time. GVCO has no plans for outdoor courts however, we are glad to see that right across the street from GVCO is East Whiteland Bacton Hill Park where there will be outdoor courts. See the Bacton Hill Park Master Plan | East Whiteland Township, PA. We are really looking forward to seeing our Pickleball friends next Fall 2022!
If you are not already on the newsletters/emails for GVCO and would like to be, please sign up for the GV Pickleball Constant Contact list.
Please come out and look at the set up for GVCO October 17th 1-4; we would like to see our past and new PB players!
GVCO Community Partnership
Philadelphia is the nation's poorest big city with nearly 300,000 children living in poverty across the region. Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia has a reach that goes well beyond the borders of the city itself.

Chester County, including the Malvern area, is included in the region in which Cradles to Crayons is having an impact. GVCO is once again partnering with Cradles to Crayons, hosting our 3rd Annual Donation Drive. Reaching out to our Great Valley community in an effort to help those right here in our area.
 
Part of Cradles to Crayons' mission: "Our whole focus is to make our collaborative process as easy and streamlined as possible. This helps us to empower the children we serve collaboratively — at home, at school, and at play — by providing the everyday essentials that match their individual needs." GVCO's reach here in the community, coupled with Cradles to Crayons' ability to reach those in need is the perfect partnership for our GVCO Caring Hands foundation.
 
Childhood poverty is a serious nationwide issue and the local area is not immune. Without adequate and appropriate clothing, children face unfair barriers and participate in life on an unequal playing field. Cradles to Crayons uses the term “Clothing Insecurity” as part of our efforts to formally recognize the issue, and increase awareness on this hidden basic need.
 
GVCO is proud to be partnering with such a worthy organization in helpng Cradles to Crayons reach its inspiring mission and goals.

Great Valley Community Organization
Lend a Paw
Donation Drive
Our 1st Annual Lend A Paw donation drive in association with the Brandywine Valley SPCA and Senator Committa's office was a huge success! Woof! Woof!
 
Thanks to your efforts, Caring Hands collected dog and cat food, kitty litter, treats, toys, sheets, towels and bedding for the SPCA animals. Caring Hands volunteers made dozens of food puzzles for dogs, sock toys for cats and many, many peanut butter filled kongs.
Starting October 23rd, we will be hosting our 3rd annual donation drive to benefit Cradles to Crayons. Start putting the gently used clothing and shoes the kids have grown out of in a bag, as October is right around the corner!
GVCO Project Update
THE STONE BASE COURSE FOR THE DRIVEWAY & UPPER PARKING LOT HAS BEEN INSTALLED
 
For 3 straight days, Charlestown Paving worked to get the drive/upper parking lot installed. What seemed like 100 truckloads of material were delivered, leveled and than rolled. The picture above is taken from the back of the site from behind the practice field. The pad for the building is on the left. The driveway down to Bacton Hill Rd can be seen at the far end.


What can we accomplish together? See GVCO Inside and Out
The GVCO Future
We are on our way...
 
to a world-class community resource that delivers a broad range of sports, educational, arts, recreational and senior programs that address key community needs.
We need your help to finish what we've started! We will not get the necessary financing to complete the project without raising additional funds.
Together we can we do this! https://gvcocampaign.org/pledges
GVCO Donor Spotlight
Jody and George Powers


How lucky are we to have a new community center in our area?! GVCO has been a part of our lives since our children used to play hoops at GVBL over 15 years ago. The camaraderie and good spirits in that gym were refreshing and seeing the kids grow into a sport they liked made it so enjoyable.

In 2019, we were able to participate in and volunteer our time when GVCO introduced Pickleball. Over 200 players got involved and had a blast learning and playing the game and participating in other GVCO programming as well as the Caring Hands Foundation.
 
We cannot wait for the new center and the new pickleball courts! We are thrilled that the building will house many sports, programs, and activities that benefit the community. The new center is a true labor of love for the many parents and volunteers who have given so much of their time and effort to the project.
 
If you have not already done so, please help the cause and donate today so we can all benefit from all that GVCO has available. Let's make GVCO the place to go!
GVCO Sponsor Spotlight
JMR Engineering, LLC is a full service engineering firm located in Downingtown with a staff that has been serving the Delaware Valley for over 25 years.
JMR Engineering is a professional civil engineering, land planning, and CADD drafting services consulting firm for the private land development and municipal industry. They utilize the latest technology to offer a wide range of services to our clients including land development design for residential, commercial, industrial, retail, mixed use development and redevelopment projects.  
 
The company was founded in 2010 by President John (Jack) Robinson, P.E., M.B.A. His engineering education from the University of Delaware and his business education from West Chester University helped produce a unique mix of experience with a mindset toward efficient design. Jack has been working in the engineering industry in the southeastern PA region for 25 years and has developed a team of professionals able to handle today’s challenging engineering projects. Along the way, JMR has developed strong relationships within the community and a reputation for trustworthy reliable service. 
More GVCO Programs
Winter Basketball

GVBL registration remains open until October 26th. About 400 kids are registered and looking forward to another great GVBL winter season! 
 
There will be Skills Assessment sessions from Oct. 18th - Oct. 29th. A full Skills Assessment schedule will be posted next week.
 
All information is available on the GVCO.org website and please pay attention to the weekly GVBL Around The Rim updates sent via Constant Contact each Monday afternoon.
 
Gym space continues to be an issue in the region, but once again, the goal will be to go back to the pre-pandemic GVBL formula of one practice and one game per week for all teams.

Regular registration of $175 ends 10/26.
There is no sibling discount.
Waitlisting begins Oct. 26th or when a section fills.
Waitlisting does not guarantee team placement.
 
Preliminary schedule for Grades 1-8:
·    10/18 Skills assessments begin
·    Early Nov.: teams finalized
·    11/6:  Coaches meeting and uniform distribution
·    Week of 11/8: GVBL Winter League practices begin

There will be one practice (roughly 1 hr) sometime during the week and one game (roughly 1 hr) a week on the weekend. Games and practices will be held at a location with GVSD boundaries. During registration, we allow parents to choose one day a week that will NOT work for practice in order to allow some flexibility in scheduling other activities.
 
Players must be Great Valley Residents: Register
 
GVBL Boys High School Basketball League
 
Open to Great Valley resident boys in grades 9-12 in September 2021.
Teams have only games and no practices
 
Below is the preliminary schedule for Grades 9-12
·    11/29: Games begin and run until the first week in March.
·    No games will be played from Dec. 23rd through Jan. 2nd.
 
Players must be Great Valley Residents: Register
 
As always please reach out to basketball@GVCO.org with further questions.
Fall Cheer
 
October 9th was Pink Out Day
GVFL Flag Football
Another beautiful day for football last Saturday at the GVCO complex. The cheerleaders were there with their pink pom poms for Pink Out Day. The coaches had all four teams prepared for their games. And we saw our first pass play of the season. The boys appear to be having a great time as each week they begin to grasp a greater understanding of the game. Looking forward to continued progress this week.
GVFL Tackle Football
Our 5th grade team beat Springford Gold 27-0 while the 3rd grade team lost to Coventry 13-19.

This weekend, the 3rd grade team plays at Springford. The 5th grade team have a bye.
Fall Crew
 
Upcoming Regattas:
 



Overpeck Fall Classic: October 17 - Overpeck Park, Leonia, NJ
 
Head of the Schuylkill: October 30 - Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA
 
Hidden River Chase - November 7 - Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA
 
Frostbite: November 13 - Mercer Lake - West Windsor, NJ
 
Braxton: November 14 - Mercer Lake - West Windsor, NJ

More ways to Support GVCO
Vote for us and help direct Target’s giving to benefit GVCO! For full program details and restrictions visit Target Circle. Target.com/circle
Shop at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-1139318 and Amazon donates to Great Valley Community Organization.​
Do You Match?
 
Did you know your employer might have a Matching Gifts program?
 
It's a great way to contribute and help GVCO complete the entire new GVCO Community Center project.
CONNECT WITH US
Great Valley Football